The family of Anarae Schunk posted this map on its Facebook page. "Based on the location of the homicide and potential destinations, the area circled in red is a likely area where Anarae may be," the post said. (Courtesy of Please Help Find Anarae Schunk Facebook Page)

Kyle Klaphake, right, and Andy Garceau, left, search for missing UMN student Anarae Schunk in Lilydale Park in Saint Paul on Sunday, September 29, 2013. Schunk has been missing since September 21. "We're just trying to help out however we can," said Garceau. (Pioneer Press: Simon Guerra)Operators work on the ongoing demolition of the Twin Cities Ford assembly plant in St Paul on Wednesday September 24, 2013. The plant was in operation from 1925 to 2011. (Pioneer Press: Simon Guerra)

Mariana Schunk was in her Burnsville home Sunday as her husband and two sons searched areas of Lilydale and Rosemount for Anarae Schunk, their 20-year-old daughter and younger sister who police believe is a homicide victim.

Mariana and Monty Schunk’s eldest child, Tyson, said police believe his sister is dead after finding a bloody white coat that the University of Minnesota student reportedly was wearing the day she disappeared. Police told the family about the coat Friday night, Tyson Schunk said, and said it has 18 to 20 holes that might have been caused by a knife.

Family members and more than 20 volunteers searched for Schunk on Sunday along the Mississippi River and Pickerel Lake in Lilydale and around UMore Park in Rosemount.

Tyson Schunk said the search locations were based on places his sister might have been in the wake of a Sept. 21 homicide at Nina’s Grill in Burnsville. Anarae Schunk’s ex-boyfriend, Shavelle Chavez-Nelson, who also goes by Anthony Lee Nelson, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Palagor Obang Jobi, 23, of Savage.

Schunk had attempted to reconnect with Chavez-Nelson, her ex-boyfriend, in an apparent attempt to get back money she had loaned him. The two met at Nina’s Grill, where, according to a criminal complaint, Chavez-Nelson exchanged words with Jobi, who was talking with Ashley Conrade, Chavez-Nelson’s current girlfriend. Chavez-Nelson and Jobi began fighting, witnesses said, and Chavez-Nelson allegedly shot Jobi eight times in the chest, killing him.

Witnesses told police that Chavez-Nelson left the scene of the shooting after 2 a.m. with two women, who police believe were Conrade and Schunk.

Conrade was arrested on charges of aiding Chavez-Nelson after Jobi’s slaying.

“We are looking into places and info along the routes after the murder at Nina’s,” Tyson Schunk said. “We are combing open fields and looking at tire tracks. We are looking for what she was wearing, what jewelry she had on and what was in her backpack.”

Mariana Schunk commended Tyson and her middle son, Owen, for their search efforts.

“I’m just glad they are all together,” she said.

Mariana Schunk said her husband went on the search Sunday morning.

“I was almost relieved that he didn’t find her,” she said. “If he did, I would have wanted to be out there.”

The first area the family was searching, in Lilydale, is near the St. Paul home of Chavez-Nelson’s ex-wife, where some evidence was found, Tyson Schunk said, and the second is in Rosemount, near Conrade’s home.

“We think those may be two good areas to look,” Tyson Schunk said.

Burnsville police said Sunday night that they cannot comment on the active investigation but that the family is free to discuss details. Burnsville police Sgt. Jeff White said the department is not involved in the family’s search efforts.

Mariana Schunk said she is confident in the police investigation.

“I’m one of the people that is convinced that the police department did what they could have done,” she said.

Tyson Schunk, however, said he has doubts, including uncertainty about whether Anarae was wearing the coat or whether it was her blood on it.

“We were devastated,” he said of being told by police Friday that his sister was likely dead. “Then we got our senses, and based on what they’ve told us, we aren’t convinced.”

The brother of another missing woman was among the searchers helping the family in Lilydale. Steve Matula’s sister Mandy Matula, 24, of Eden Prairie, was last seen May 1. Her former boyfriend fatally shot himself outside Eden Prairie police headquarters just before he was due to speak with officers about her disappearance.

“Going through the experience with Mandy, I know it’s nice to have the support of the community, especially someone who doesn’t know Anarae,” said Matula, 22.

Andy Greder covers the Gophers and Minnesota United for the Pioneer Press. Since joining the paper full time in November 2013, he has also covered the Timberwolves as a beat and spot duty from the Vikings to high schools. He was a part-time breaking news reporter at the Pioneer Press from 2011-13, when he was also a freelance writer and organic farmer. He started at the Duluth News Tribune in 2006, covering sports, news and business until living abroad in 2010.

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